NEW BEDFORD – Recreational boaters will have expanded launch services when visiting the city, thanks to a new launch service operated by the Harbor Development Commission.

“We're known primarily as an industrial port... but we're also game to take advantage of any market we can jump into, and recreational boating is one of them,” said Mayor Jon Mitchell.

Mitchell said that in 2012 recreational boaters in the Northeast made 907,000 trips, spending $1,150 per trip. That's money that the city wants to get a piece of — and it's got a lot to offer in return.

“You have all these things to walk to — museums, a performing arts center, there are about 20 restaurants within a five minute walk of this spot,” Mitchell said. “If you go to Newport, if you go to other places in the Northeast, you can't do it as easily as you can here.”

The launch service was recommended by the HDC's Recreational Advisory Group, formed to help boost the port's recreational activity. It's designed to supplement an existing launch service provided by Whaling City Expeditions.

A request for proposals was put out by the HDC but it received no responses, according to Port Director Jeffrey Stieb.

“We're going to kickstart this business, and hopefully next year a private business will come in and operate,” Stieb said.

Two part-time positions were created by the HDC to operate the launch, Stieb said. The boat cost about $12,000. The motor on the launch was already owned by the city.

In addition to the launch, new dingy docks were installed at Pier 3 as part of the initiative, with space for some 18 dingys.